~ simply feisty seeds

Happy Equinox!

Happy Spring to everyone in the northern hemisphere and Autumn to my friends in the south! I am usually so keyed to solstices and equinoxes but for some reason I totally forgot about this one and was only reminded about it during the weather forecast on the radio this morning. That kind of reveals how all over the place my brain has been of late. Work has been busy and then at home there have been lots of things to keep track of — a four-day Easter weekend, a four-day birthday weekend, chicks coming in a week and a half, a chick brooder to build, a chicken coop to finish, seeds and sprouts to keep track of, a garden to plan and a just released Friends School Plant Sale catalog to comb through to help me plan that garden. Also, books to read, a Library Journal review deadline coming up, cycling workouts, a weekly virtual cycling group ride to lead, weights to lift, core workouts and time with a foam roller for all my tired muscles. Oh, and blog posts to write. Though I didn’t do so well with that last week. This week should be better though. Maybe.

In case you haven’t been paying attention, the last two weeks have seen two new essays go up on Vocalis. Check ’em out, they are great! I’m hoping the Easter weekend will afford me time to write one of my own I have been kicking around in my head for a couple of weeks now.

Phew. Breathe.

My seed starting is going pretty well. The tomatillos are being stubborn but everything else is sprouting and growing including the peppers that were so slow to start. Last week I intended to get marigolds started but for the life of me I could not find any of the seeds I saved from last year. Where could they have gone to? I really have to make an effort to get better at organizing my end of gardening season self. I am generally so tired at that point I put everything aside to deal with in a few weeks during late fall/early winter and then it ends up I don’t do anything until spring when I am running around wondering what I did with the marigold flower heads I clipped for seeds.

Since I could not find the dried flower heads, I resorted to buying a packet of marigold seeds when Bookman and I went out today to get chicken coop hardware. We got hinges and latches for the coop and run doors. Also nails. I am paranoid about critters of both the two and four-legged sort getting into the coop and run when we are not around. As a result, you would think we were building a mini Fort Knox. We got door latches for the run door, the egg door and the cleaning door that we can put locks on. Bookman and I also spent way too much time discussing hinges — what kind, how big, how many, where and how are they to be attached, how will they open, expensive galvanized or a little cheaper zinc coated? Yes, we are totally over-building this thing. It will be a chicken coop for the ages.

The weather this weekend is sunny but a cold, much more normal temperature for this time of year (40F/4C). The week brought us sun and rain and snow. Also, my tulips are up through the mulch by several inches. The week ahead will have warm sun, rain, and possibly a day of wet, heavy snow. This is much more like typical spring in Minnesota where winter isn’t quite ready to let go but spring is ready to take over. It’s a rollercoaster. Or Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates.

Brooder building

The chicks arrive in a week and half. To that end, Bookman built us a chick brooder today. I was planning on us doing it together but he did it while I was doing some household chores. When I asked whether he wanted me to help, he grunted at me and said I didn’t have enough testosterone. The brooder is a temporary home for the chicks until they get big enough to go outside. We built it, Bookman built it, out of cardboard boxes and duct tape. Building something with duct tape is a manly job apparently, men being distinctly qualified to fix and build things with industrial strength tape.

For some reason the cats do not help Bookman build things like they help me. Perhaps they were concerned about tape and fur? Whatever the reasons, they stayed clear.

The brooder is done. Next weekend we will put in the bedding and hang the heat lamp and make it move-in ready for the babies. Just a little over a year ago we decided to get chickens. Back then it seemed like a forever time to wait and now in about ten days, the Dashwoods will be arriving and I worry if we are ready. I’ll find out soon enough.

Melwyk, I am really looking forward to the two impending four-day weekends! I am hoping to come out of them rested and refreshed with maybe a little less to keep track of. A labyrinth walk, even a freezing one, sounds lovely!

Happy Spring Stefanie! Here’s to some lovely weather to help your gardens bloom and your chicks grow! You have had a busy week…but Easter Weekend is around the corner and that means more time to READ and Write! 😉

You are a busy lady! Good luck with all your eggs in proverbial different baskets, but it’ll all come together I’m sure! I haven’t started my seedlings yet – the ones outside were likely eaten by our new friend Fluffy {the opossum!} or the birds, so I’m planning to start some inside this week as well. Can’t wait to see some more pictures of how your spring is progressing!

My husband never wants my help with his projects! Probably because I’m always saying “watch out!” and “be careful!” You sound very busy but in a good way! We’re having our last snowstorm of the season today, and the daffodils in the front yard are probably getting quite confused.

Laurie, well the chickens are actually my project but Bookman has jumped on board and duct tape is apparently really appealing 🙂 The buds are starting to swell on ,y apple trees and currant bushes and I am sure they are getting really confused too!

Wow, who would have there would be so many choice when it comes to hinges! But then why not, right? You sound really, really busy, but strangely I can get lots accomplished at times like those when there is so much going on–hopefully it is the same with you! And yay, the chicks will be there soon–I can’t wait to see photos of them and their new home. Time really does fly–kind of scary that. Have a good, and very busy week and fingers crossed that the snow event coming this week (measurable snow for us they are saying….) goes south! 😉

Danielle, I know, I had no idea hinges were such a big deal! It’s weird how when we are busy we can get so many things done, no time to waste! I am so very much looking forward to the chicks. They are going to be so cute!

Happy equinox to you, though I’m sorry to have been reminded of ours as it means we are now moving into daylight deficit. Some of my patchwork friends were saying last week that they can’t wait for Daylight Savings to be over! I’m dreading it. I know that the mornings are getting darker but I’d trade dark evenings for dark mornings anytime. I’d have daylight savings all year if I could!

And two new essays on Vocalis? I missed those but they probably are in my overwhelmed blog mail folder. Will go check them out. Funnily enough I was thinking again of an essay today but I never get past the thinking in my head bit. YOu’ve heard of Flash Fiction? I’m wondering about a Flash Essay! But just because that would be short doesn’t mean it would be any faster to write!

whisperinggums, sorry for the shortened daylight reminder! Since I am an early riser, I much prefer light mornings to long, light evenings. 🙂

Yes, flash essays! I took an essay writing class once years ago and we had to write a 500 word essay. It is not easy but it forces one to pare things down to the essentials. I rather liked mine. Maybe I should post it sometime.